[Air-l] Re: ethnography

[Maximilian Forte]

> It's worth
> holding in mind a) the inextricability of the ethnographic mode with the
> colonial missionary project and b) the likelihood of unintended
consequences
> over intended ones, and the very different positions of power which are
held
> in the ethnographic encounter.
>
(A) there is nothing inherently "colonial" about the practice of
ethnography. How ethnography is done, by which agents, in which historical
contexts, and for what purposes is what matters. I think we risk confusing
the histortical origins of anthropology with field methods.

(B) There is no law, that I know of, that will convince me that unintended
consequences are more likely than intended ones. What is the basis for the
assertion?

Finally, the issue of power differentials has been hammered to death and I
was never really impressed by the lack of realism of these arguments. I have
conducted research with people who could buy and sell me at a whim, other
who could have snuffed me out at the snap of the fingers, and  others that
had over three decades of experience in dealing with the media, politicians,
ministries, or who were themselves political leaders. I was some kid getting
an "anthro" degree. There are power differentials, sure, but not necessarily
in the single direction you suggest.

Cheers,

Dr Maximilian C. Forte
Assistant Professor in Anthropology
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
University College of Cape Breton
P.O. Box 5300, Sydney, NS, Canada, B1N 1A3
Tel: 902-563-1947
Fax: 902-563-1247
E-mail: max_forte at uccb.ca
Website: http://faculty.uccb.ns.ca/mforte/